Sash fastener



United States Patent 2,997,323 ASH FASTEINER Clarence B. Riser, Sterling, lll., assignor to Lawrence` Brothers, Inc., Sterling, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 858,186 8 Claims. (Cl. 292-111) 'I'his invention relates to sash fasteners which may be used for double-hung windows.

Sash fasteners made largely from stampings without the use of cast parts are well known. Such fasteners cus- Fasteners of this general type have, furthermore, been l found to be susceptible of being unlatched as by repeated, light blows directed at the sash rail adjacent the fastener. Accordingly, previous sash fasteners made largely from stampings have not proved to be yan insurmountable 'ob stacle to housebreakers.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide an improved sash fastener which may be made largely from stampings. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide -a sash fastener of the type described which is convenient to install and use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a sash fastener which is positively positionable into its locked position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sash fastener which resists being repositioned by vibrations or jarring.

Additional objects and features of the invention pertain to the particular structure and arrangements whereby the above objects are attained.

A structure in accord with the invention includes a strike; a base having a horizontal plate and laterally eX- tending mounting flanges, the plate defining a circular aperture and an irregularly shaped cam slot, the cam slot having an arcuate portion concentric with the aperture and having a straight portion axially aligned with the aperture; a nger depending from the plate; a nose member slidably overlying the base, including a hook adapted to engage the strike selectively, a downwardly projecting cam follower adapted to ride in the irregular slot, and an L-shaped cam slot having a constriction defined by a protuberance; a cover piece having an operating handle, a depending cam follower adapted to ride in the L-shaped slot, and a stud adapted to extend through the L-shaped slot and through the aperture; and a spring lixed beneath the plate between the finger and the cam follower of the nose member to be disposed about at least a portion of the stud.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, will -be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawing forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. l is a fragmentary perspective view of doublehung window sash secured by a sash fastener in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2, is an enlarged, plan view of the sash fastener employed in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view through the section 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 s a bottom plan View of the lock portion of the iash fastener of the invention, showing the intermediate Vnosition in which the lock engages the strike but is not positively closed;

. `parent that spring 70 is adapted to showing the positively closed position;

FIG. V6 is an exploded perspective view of the principal elements of the lock portion of the sash fastener of the invention; Y

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, bottom plan view of the cam slot provided in the nose member of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, bottom plan View of the lock portion of the sash fastener of the invention showing a modified form of the invention in which a coil spring is used to throw the fastener open after it has been manually directed to the intermediate position shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, specifically to FIG. 1, an upper sash 10 is shown secured to a lower sash 12 by means of a sash fastener indictaed generally at 14. The sash fastener 14 includes a strike 16 aflixed to the check rail of the upper sash 10 and a lock 18 affixed tothe corresponding check rail of the lower sash 12. Wood screws or other suitable means may be employed in aixing the strike 16 and the lock 18.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 3 and 6, the lock 18 is shown to be comprised of a base 20, a nose member 22 and a cover piece 24. The base 20 is fashioned with a horizontal plate 26 and laterally extending mounting flanges 28 and 30, the mounting anges 28 and 30 being provided with countersunk holes 32 for receiving the heads of the wood screws used in alxing the base 20 to the sash rail.

The plate 26 is arranged to define a circular aperture 34 and an irregularly shaped cam slot 36. Cam slot 36 comprises an arcuate portion 38, whose sides are concentric with the aperture 34, and a straight portion 401 which is radially aligned with the aperture 34 and which extends transversely of the base 20. Furthermore, a linger 42 is arranged to depend from Ythe plate 26 and may be formed as by a stamping operation.

The nose member 22 is adapted to be assembled slidably and rotatably overlying the base 20 with a downwardly projecting cam follower 44 riding in slot 36. Nose member 22 includes a hook 46 which is adapted to engage the cooperating hook of strike 16. Nose member 22 further denes an L-shaped cam slot 48. A protuberance S0 extends into cam slot 48 to provide a constriction for purposes which will be brought out more fully hereinbelow.

Cover piece 24 includes an operating handle 52 and a cup-shaped portion 54 which retains a cam plate 56 by the peened over edge 58. Cam plate 56 is centrally apertured, and a stud 60 is nonrotatably extended through this aperture as by being provided with a knurled collar 62 for engaging the sidewalls of the aperture. The stud 60 is adapted to pass through the cam slot 48 and through the aperture 34 to receive a torque nut 64 about its otherwise free end, stud 60 and nut 64 4being provided with complementary threads. Advantageously, a tubular lock spacer 66 is rotatably mounted about stud 60` between nut 64 and plate 26.

lCam plate 56 is also provided with a carn follower 68 which is adapted to ride in the cam slot 48 when cover piece 24 is assembled with the nose member 22 and the base 20.

As shown in FIGS. 3 5, a torsion spring 70 is disposed with its coils loosely encircling the tubular lock spacer 66, having its ends secured respectively to the cam follower 44 and the linger 42. Furthermore, spring 70` is arranged to throw handle 52 in the general direction of arrow 72 when the handle has been manually directed to the position shown in FIG. 4. Thus, it will become apthrow the nose member 22 into the unlocked position once it has been manu@ ally guided to the intermediate position illustrated in FIG. 4.

Turning `now to FIG. 8, a `coil spr-ingj70a,f.desirably fashioned of music wire, is shownfastened betweenfollower 44 and linger 42 encircling ia portionofthe spacer 66.'v Certain manufacturing advantages-are secured; f

by employing a coil spring 70a rather than a torsion spring Having thus described the construction of the invention, it is important now to state how the illustrated embodiment operates. Assuming that the sashes 10v and 12 are disposed as illustrated inFIG. 1 vand*assumingZt-hat the sashes are. the Vvstrike 16,' .the-v secured by means of the lock 18. and handle S2 will be disposed inathe positionindicatedin solid outline in FIG.- 2 and the hookg 46 will be in engagement with the strike y16 as is also illustrated in FIG.y 2. A bottom'view of 4this same configurationV of lock 18-is shown in FIG. 5.

In order to unlatch thel sashes, as-for example might be desiredin contemplation` of opening the window,v the handle 52 will be manually directed to the position shownY A in FIG. 2. This is the intermediate position also showniny FIG. 4. The

in broken outline and designated manual repositioning of handle 52 required to achieve this coniiguration causes cam follower 68 to negotiatel protuberance 50 from the position indicated in solid outline Y in FIG. 7 to the position indicated in broken outline.

, When the handle 52 achieves this intermediate position,

protuberance 50 will no longer obstruct-free movement of the cam follower cated in broken outline and designated-B in FIG. 2.'

Thistautomatic movement ofthe handle-Slis associated" with a concomitant movement of nosemember 22 into the position shown in dotted outline in FIG. 2. With the nose plate 22 thus retracted, sashes relative to each other in order to openthe window.

When the window is closed and the check rails of sashes 10 kand 12 are approximately aligned in contemplation of latching the sashes, the fastener 14 may be secured byA manually moving the handle 52 lin the general direction indicated by arrow 74 in FIG. 2.

As the handle 52 is directed into the intermediate position referred to hereinabove, the rotation of cam follower GS about stub 60 which is occasioned by ,this movement of the handle will cause a concomitant rotation of the nose member 22 from the position indicated in broken outline in FIG. 2 to theposition indicated in solid outline wherein the hook 46 engages the strike 16. Furthermovement of the handle 52 in the general direction indicated by arrow 72, will result in nose member 27. being retracted in theA general direction indicated in FIG. 5 by arrow 76. tightly together and tends to compensate for any slight mis-registration of the sas'hes.

tion of the diameter of one or more of the coils thereof allowing the relocation of follower 44frorn.- the position shown in FIG. 4 to that shown in FIG. 5.

Eventually, the cam follower d8 willV reach the position indicated in broken outline in FIG. 7 where its further movement will be obstructed by the protuberance S0.

Application of slight additional force to the handle 52v will cause the cam follower 68 to ride up .over the protuberance 50 into the position indicated in solid outline in FIG. 7. This is the locked positionwhich is also illustrated in FIG. 5.

As will be recognized, in this locked position, pro-l tuberance S tends to position the fastener parts positively so that vibration of the sash rails cannot unlock the fastener. Additionally, this blocking action of the protuberance `50 effectively prevents spring 70 from acci-v dentallyunlatching the fastener-" In effect; the retraction' of nose member "22 exerts a tensile force"on"spring'7l;`fi75 68 and spring 70 will throw handle SZ-in ,Y the general directionA of `arrow 72./into the position indi-- 10 and 12 may be moved 'I'his action causes the sashes to be drawnv 4,. and the reaction of spring 70 to this tensile force urges the prothb'erance4 "SlVof the the window thereby trapping the follower 68. Location of follower 44 in the slot portion 40 cooperates in the -holding of the parts against rotation in this locked position.

The specific example'lherein'shbwnV and described is illustrative only;v Various changes in structure willi; no#

doubt, occurto those skilled in the art; and lthes'e'changes are to be understoodas.forming` a part of this invention insofar as they fallwithinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows: 1. A sash fastener comprising: a strike; a base having a horizontal plate, said platedetining an aperture and a. cani slot; a nose member slidably and rotatably overlying said base, including a hook adapted to engage said` strike and a cam follower adapted to ride in said slot, said member defining a generally L-shaped cam slot having'a constriction dened by a protuberance; a cover piece having an operating handle, a cam follower adapted to ride in said L-shaped slot, and

a stud adapted 'to extend through said L-shaped slot and member .to be disposed about at least a portion of said stud, said spring means reacting in torsion to rotation of 1 Said nose member and reacting in tension to sliding of said nose member ina forwarddirection, the tension of said holding the cam follower of said cover piece locked condition of spring'means relative tosaid protuberance inthe said fastener whereby to secure said nose member from being rotated 'by the 'torsion 'of said spring means.

2.`A sashffaste'ner according to Vclaiml 1 wherein `saidspring means is -a coil spring.

3g. Ai sash 'fastener according spring means is a torsionspring.

4. A sash fastenerfor -a window structure comprising: astrike adaptedfto'be' mounted on a check rail ofone` sash; a base 'adapted vto be mounted on the check rail.

of another sash, said base having a horizontal plate and laterally extending fmounting lianges, said plate defining. a circular' aperture andan irregularly shaped cam slot,

said slot having an arcuate portion concentric with said aperture and having a straight portion radially aligned with said'aperture to extendtransversely of said base;

a finger depending from said plate; a nose member slidablyandfrotatably,overlying said base, including a hook adapted to engage said strike and a downwardly projecting cam follower adapted to 4ride in said irregular During the .retractionof the nose member 22, spring`70 is elongated by .a contrac-v slot, said 'member defining va generally L-shaped cam slot having-a constriction defined by a protuberance; a

cover piece havingan operating handle, a depending cam follower adapted to ride in said L-shaped slot, and a stud adapted to extend through said L-shaped slot and through Said aperture; and a single spring fixed beneath said plate between said finger andthe cam follower of said noseY member to be disposed about at least a portion of saidV stud, wherein said protuberance serves to position said vfastener positivelyinits locked position, said spring reacting in torsion to rotation of said nose member and reacting in tension to sliding of said nose member ina forward direction, the tension of said spring holding the.

fbetweensaid base, said member.- and said handle-element for 'swinging saidV member into alignment Awith-said strike and for sliding said member relative to said base; a single locked nose member toward through said aperture; and unitary-V spring means operative between said base and said nose to claim 1 wherein said spring acting betwen said base and said member to rotate said member out of engagement with said strike; and detent means coactable with a said follower for restraining said member against the rotation urged by said spring when said member is slid relative to said base, said spring cooperating to hold said detent means in operable engagement.

6. A sash fastener comprising: a strike adapted to be mounted on one sash of a window; a base adapted to be mounted on another sash of the window; a hook-deinng member supported on said base to swing into and out of engagement with said strike; an operating handle element pivotal relative to said base; a single spring acting between said base and said member to urge said member out of engagement with said strike; detent means operable between said handle element and said member; rst camming means operative between said member and said base; and second camming means operating between said handle element and said member, said rst and second camming means acting to direct said member into a locked condition wherein said rst camming means cooperates to hold said member against rotation, wherein said spring holds said detent means in operable engagement and wherein said detent means holds said rst camming means in restraining engagement.

7. A sash fastener including: a strike adapted for association with one sash member; a base adapted for juxtapositioning on a complementary sash member, said base providing a horizontal plate having a stud-accommodating aperture and a cam slot including a transverse portion and an arcuate portion concentric with said studaccommodating aperture and communicating at one extremity thereof with said transverse portion; a bolt overlying said plate, having a hook at one extremity thereof for coacting with said strike selectively and having a follower member movable with said bolt and extending into said cam slot, said bolt providing a second cam slot; operating handle means having a portion superimposing said bolt; a stud providing a pivotal mounting for said handle means` and extending axially from said handle means' through said second cam slot and through said base aperture; a follower member on the handle means spaced radially ofsaid stud and extending into said second cam slot; and spring means biased between said bolt and said base, cooperatively disposed with respect to said follower members Iand said cam slots to resist movement of the handle means when the bolt occupies its locked position and automatically to move said bolt to its unlocked position only after said handle means has been angularly displaced a distance sul'licient to direct the follower member of said bolt into association with the arcuate cam slot in said bas'e.

8. A sash fastener according to claim 7 wherein s-aid follower members and said stud are substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said bolt in said locked position whereby to resist movement into said unlocked position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 610,209 Voight Sept. 6, 1898 624,412 Voight May 2, 1899 1,677,825 Hilty July 17, 1928 2,873,134 Ahlgren Feb. 10, 1959 

